Image reading system

ABSTRACT

In an image reading system having an image reading apparatus for reading the image of a document and an information processing terminal which receives the image data output by the image reading apparatus, the information processing terminal verifies the kind of operation performed at a control panel of the image reading apparatus, calls an image reading module and instructs the image reading apparatus to perform an operation based upon the kind of operation. The image reading apparatus responds by reading the image of the document, and the information processing terminal accepts the image data obtained and stores the image data in a predetermined area of a hard disk. This makes it possible to operate the image reading system efficiently.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an image reading system having an imagereading apparatus for reading the image of a document and an informationprocessing terminal for controlling the image reading apparatus.

An image reading system conventionally has an image reading apparatusand an information processing terminal. The image reading apparatus isinstructed to start the reading of an image by an operation performed atthe information processing terminal. In a scenario where the readingapparatus is connected to a LAN and is shared by a plurality ofinformation processing terminals, however, the reading apparatus and theinformation processing terminals would most likely be placed atphysically remote locations and therefore it would be considered usefulto provide means through which the command to start reading could beissued directly from the image reading apparatus itself.

However, if it is so arranged that a command to start reading can beaccepted from both the image processing apparatus and the informationprocessing terminals, a problem would arise in which reading startcommands might be entered by a plurality of users simultaneously.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentionedproblem.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system in whichan image read command for transfer of an image to an informationprocessing terminal can be issued by operation of an image readingapparatus, at which time the information processing terminal is causedto manage the command information.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system in whichprocessing contention can be prevented by reserving the reading of animage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system in whichthe reading of an image can be carried out by exchange commands made toconform to the specifications of a general-purpose interface.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image reading systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of a scannerincluded in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a control panel on thescanner shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure executed when aninformation processing terminal in FIG. 1 controls the scanner; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the flow of data between the scannerand the information processing terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image reading systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1,the system includes an image reading apparatus (referred to as a"scanner" below) 101 having an interface for connection to aninformation processing terminal 102. The scanner 101 optically reads adocument in the form of a sheet or book, converts the optical data toelectrical image data and outputs the image data to the informationprocessing terminal 102. It should be noted that the scanner 101 startsreading a document in response to a command from the informationprocessing terminal 102 connected thereto. Further, the scanner 101accepts a user-initiated command from a control panel, described later.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of thescanner 101. The scanner includes a CPU 201 serving as a systemcontroller for controlling the overall scanner 101 via a system bus 211.A ROM 202 stores the control program of the CPU 201, an operating system(OS) program, etc. A RAM 203 is constituted by e.g. an SRAM or the likeand stores control program variables. Setting values registered by theoperator and system management data are stored in the RAM 203, whichfunctions also as various working buffers.

An image memory 204 is constituted by e.g. a DRAM or the like and storesentered image data. According to this embodiment, each control programthat has been stored in the ROM 202 controls software for scheduling andtask switches and the like under the supervision of the OS stored in theROM 202.

A control panel 205, which is constituted by various keys, LEDs and anLCD, etc., allows an operator to make various entries and presents adisplay of the operating status of the image reading system.

A reading controller 206 is constituted by e.g. a CS image sensor, adocument transport mechanism, etc. The reading controller 206 reads theimage of a document optically using the CS image sensor and converts theoptical signal to electrical image data. The image data resulting fromthe conversion is subjected to various processing such as binarizationand halftoning by an image processing controller 207. The result ishigh-definition image data. The converted image data is coded inaccordance with a predetermined coding scheme via a coding/decodingcontroller 208 for reading purposes, and the coded data is stored in theimage memory 204.

An I/F controller 210 performs control for interfacing the informationprocessing terminal 102, which is externally connected to the scanner101. In this embodiment, the I/F controller 210 corresponds to aparallel interface such as a bidirectional Centronics interface. Whenimage data is transferred to the external information processingterminal 102, a coding processor 209 for interfacing purposes performsthe necessary decoding/coding processing, which depends upon the type ofimage data that has been stored in the image memory 204, and enters theimage data into the information processing terminal 102.

The information processing terminal 102 is a general-purpose personalcomputer and is equipped with an MPU, a hard disk, a keyboard and adisplay, etc. The information processing terminal 102 is capable ofbeing connected to a LAN in addition to the scanner 101, and a pluralityof client terminals on the LAN are capable of accepting image data,which enters from the scanner 101, via the intermediary of theinformation processing terminal 102.

A remote operation from the information processing terminal 102 to thescanner 101 is carried out by transmitting predetermined commandparameter data and the like to the scanner 101 via the I/F controller210.

According to this embodiment, the information processing terminal 102and the scanner 101 perform an exchange of information using a protocolin line with IEEE 1284. Further, a special channel is not provided inaccordance with the standard specifications of this protocol. Inprinciple, therefore, the information processing terminal 102 takes theinitiative in terms of communication with the scanner 101. Except in thecase of a defined alert, the scanner 101 does not itself send a reply tothe information processing terminal 102. In a case where the scanner 101sends a reply back to the information processing terminal 102, it isnecessary for a reply required flag to be set in a message from theinformation processing terminal 102. The information processing terminal102 is capable of recognizing the status of the scanner 101 (e.g. thekind of operation performed at the control panel 205) from the status ofthe flag.

According to this embodiment, application software and driver softwarefor controlling the remote operation and the request for the remoteoperation is installed on the hard disk in the information processingterminal 102.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the control panel 205 onthe scanner 101. As shown in FIG. 3, the control panel 205 has a key 301for designating start of a document reading operation, a key 302 forreserving start of the document reading operation, an LED 303 whichindicates whether the start of the document reading operation has beenreserved or not, and a key 304 for designating density at the time ofthe document reading operation.

The control panel 205 further includes has LEDs 305, 306, 307 whichindicate the document reading density designated by the key 304.Whenever the key 304 is pressed, the LEDs light in the order of LED305→LED 306→LED 307 →LED 305 . . . .

A key 308 is for designating resolution at the time of the documentreading operation, and LEDs 309, 310, 311 indicate the document readingresolution designated by the key 308. Whenever the key 308 is pressed,the LEDs light in the order of LED 309→LED 310→LED 311→LED 309 . . . .

In a case where the key 301 or 302 has been pressed, the informationprocessing terminal 102 is so notified. The lighting and extinguishmentof the LED 303 can be controlled from the information processingterminal 102. Further, each key is operated by a manual operationperformed by the operator.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure through which theinformation processing terminal 102 of this embodiment controls thescanner 101. The flowchart indicates the flow of control executed by theMPU of the information processing terminal 102 based upon an applicationprogram installed in the hard disk under the control of the MPU.

It is determined at step S401 in FIG. 4 whether the scanner is currentlyreading a document. If a document is currently being read, the operationof step S401 is repeated. If reading of a document is not in progress,then the program proceeds to step S402. Here it is determined whethernotification of depression of the key 302 (the key which reserves thestart of the document reading operation) has been given. If it is judgedthat the key 302 has been pressed, then the program proceeds to stepS403; otherwise, the program proceeds to step S409.

The scanner 101 is instructed to store the fact that reading of an imagehas been reserved by an input from the control panel 205 and to lightthe corresponding LED 303 at step S403. Under these conditions a readcommand from the keyboard of the information processing terminal 102will not be excepted. This is followed by step S404, at which it isdetermined whether notification of depression of key 301 has been given.If the key 301 (the key which designates the start of the documentreading operation) has been pressed, the program proceeds to step S405.If the key 301 has not been pressed, then the processing of step S404 isrepeated.

It is determined at step S405 whether the document to be read has beenset in the scanner 101. The program proceeds to step S406 if thedocument has been set and to step S408 if the document has not been set.More specifically, at step S406, an image reading module is called andthe scanner 101 is instructed to start reading of the image of thedocument. The scanner 101 reads the image of the document and the imagedata so obtained is read out of the image memory 204, received via theI/F controller 210 and stored in a predetermined area of the hard diskof the information processing terminal 102.

This is followed by step S407, at which the scanner 101 is instructed tocancel the image reading reservation stored at step S403 and toextinguish the LED 303.

At step S408, the fact that a document to be read has not been set inthe scanner 101 is displayed on a display unit of the informationprocessing terminal 102 to so notify the user of the informationprocessing terminal.

If it is judged at step S402 that the key 302 is not being pressed, theprogram proceeds to step S409, at which it is determined whether the key301 has been pressed. The program proceeds to step S405 if the key 301has been pressed and to step S410 if the key 301 has not been pressed.

It is determined at step S410 whether a command to start reading of animage has been accepted from the information processing terminal 102. Ifthis command has been accepted, the program proceeds to step S405 and itis determined whether or not a document to be copied is present. If thecommand to start reading of an image has not been accepted, then theprogram returns to the beginning, namely to step S401.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the flow of data between the scanner101 and information processing terminal 102.

In this embodiment, the scanner 101 and information processing terminal102 send and receive information based upon IEEE 1284. Accordingly, theexchange of all information is carried out through a procedure in whichthe scanner 101 sends back a reply in response to a command issued bythe information processing terminal 102.

At predetermined fixed intervals the information processing terminal 102transmits a command inquiring about the operating status of the scanner101 (501). In response to the command from the information processingterminal 102, the scanner 101 sends a signal indicative of the operatingstatus (e.g. the information mentioned in step S401) back to theinformation processing terminal 102 (502). More specifically, in regardto the operating status, the scanner 101 writes the relevant informationto a prescribed area of the image memory 204, and this information isverified by the information processing terminal 102. Upon verifying thatthere is notification data based upon the reply (502) from the scanner101, the information processing terminal 102 prepares to accept furtherinformation from the scanner 101 by a notification data acceptancecommand (503).

The information processing terminal 102 is notified (504) of operationof the keys 301 and 302. In a case where the keys 301 and 302 have beenoperated, the scanner 101 accumulates predetermined data in the imagememory 204 in order to notify the information processing terminal 102 ofkey operation. By transmitting the command inquiring about the operatingstatus of the scanner 101, the information processing terminal 102 iscapable of ascertaining that data has been accumulated in the imagememory 204. Accordingly, the information processing terminal 102 againissues a command (503) for acceptance of data and thereby is capable ofascertaining that the keys have been pressed. Though the description isomitted here it is assumed that the verification operation of step S405,etc., is also carried out by command and response.

When the kind of operation performed by the operator at the controlpanel 205 is verified, the information processing terminal 102 calls animage reading module and causes the reading of a document to beperformed (505) by a reading start command in accordance with the kindof setting made at the control panel 205 of the scanner 101.

Upon receiving a normal response (506) from the scanner 101, theinformation processing terminal 102 issues a command (507) for thepurpose of accepting image data obtained by reading of the document.Uploading (509) of the image data is started by a normal response (508)from the scanner 101. The image data is stored on the hard disk of theinformation processing terminal 102 in an area designated by theoperator using the control panel 205. (It should be noted that an areafor each user is prepared on the hard disk.)

In accordance with this embodiment, as described above, an image readingoperation by the scanner 101 can be commanded from both the scanner 101and the information processing terminal 102, and all of these commandsare managed by the information processing terminal 102. As a result, aplurality of users can share the scanner 101 and it is possible toprevent contention among reading start commands from a plurality ofterminals or the like.

An arrangement may be adopted in which an operation for reading an imageis performed solely by operating the control panel 205. In other words,since it is required that the user bring the document to the location ofthe scanner 101, manipulating the control panel 205 at such time iseasier than performing an operation at the information processingterminal 102. Accordingly, by making it possible to designate initiationof an image reading operation solely from the control panel 205 andactually start operation based upon a command from the informationprocessing terminal, contention among initiation commands can beprevented and processing on the side of the information processingterminal can be simplified.

Further, according to this embodiment, the kind of operation performedat the control panel 205 of the scanner 101 is stored in a predeterminedarea of the image memory 205, and the information processing terminalverifies the kind of operation. As a result, the information processingterminal can be notified of the status of scanner 101 even if a specialchannel is not provided in accordance with the specifications of theIEEE 1284 standard.

Further, according to this embodiment, the invention is described takinga single scanner as an example. However, this does not impose alimitation upon the invention, for it goes without saying that theinvention can be applied to facsimile machines and copiers as well.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to theforegoing embodiment but can be modified as set forth below withoutdeparting from the gist of the invention.

Specifically, in a case where processing for canceling the reservationof an image reading operation is executed in the foregoing embodiment,control can be carried out in such a manner that the program willproceed to step S407 if notification of depression of the key 302 isgiven at step S404 in FIG. 4. This will make it possible to cancel thescanning reservation.

Further, by performing control in the foregoing embodiment in such amanner that time is counted at step S404 in FIG. 4 and the programproceeds to step S407 when a predetermined period of time expires,reservation of scanning can be canceled automatically in a case wherescanning is left reserved and the start of scanning is commanded.

Further, an arrangement may be adopted in which the scanner 101 monitorsthe elapse of time from depression of the key 302 and notifies theinformation processing terminal 102 of the elapsed time. Meanwhile,control is exercised such that, at step S404 in FIG. 4, the time atwhich notification is given by the scanner 101 is monitored and, when apredetermined period of time has elapsed, the program proceeds to stepS407. This also makes it possible to cancel reservation of scanningautomatically in a case where scanning is left reserved and the start ofscanning is not commanded despite passage of time.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the scanner 101 can beprovided with means for monitoring elapse of time from depression of thekey 302 and means for notifying the information processing terminal 102of cancellation of reservation of the reading operation, and control canbe performed in such a manner that the program proceeds to step S407 ifnotification of cancellation of image reading reservation is given bythe scanner 101 at step S404 in FIG. 4. This also makes it possible tocancel reservation of scanning automatically in a case where scanning isleft reserved and the start of scanning is not commanded despite passageof time.

It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can alsobe achieved by providing a storage medium storing the program codes ofthe software for performing the aforesaid functions of the foregoingembodiment to a system or an apparatus, reading the program codes with acomputer (e.g., a CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus from thestorage medium, and then executing the program.

In this case, the program codes read from the storage medium implementthe novel functions of the invention, and the storage medium storing theprogram codes constitutes the invention. Further, the storage medium,such as a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk,CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile type memory card or ROM can beused to provide the program codes.

Furthermore, besides the case where the aforesaid functions according tothe embodiment are implemented by executing the program codes read by acomputer, the present invention covers a case where an operating system(OS) or the like working on the computer performs a part of or theentire process in accordance with the designation of program codes andimplements the functions according to the embodiment.

Furthermore, the present invention further covers a case where, afterthe program codes read from the storage medium are written in a functionextension board inserted into the computer or in a memory provided in afunction extension unit connected to the computer, a CPU or the likecontained in the function extension board or function extension unitperforms a part of or the entire process in accordance with thedesignation of program codes and implements the function of the aboveembodiments.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present inventioncan be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. In an image reading system having an imagereading apparatus for reading the image on a document and outputtingimage data representing the image, and an information processingterminal into which the image data output by said image readingapparatus is entered, said information processing terminal beingexternally connected to said image reading apparatus, a method ofcontrolling said information processing terminal comprising:averification step of verifying whether an image read instruction hasbeen issued by said image reading apparatus; a commanding step ofcommanding said image reading apparatus to start reading the image onthe document by said image reading apparatus if the image readinstruction has been issued from said image reading apparatus; and areceiving step of receiving image data which is the result of said imagereading apparatus reading the image in response to an image read commandin said commanding step.
 2. The method according to claim 1, whereinsaid verification step verifies information that has been stored in apredetermined area of a memory of said image reading apparatus.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein said verification step includes astep of calling a module, which is for reading an image, if it isverified at said verification step that the image read instruction hasbeen issued.
 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising astep of verifying image reading parameters set at a control panel ofsaid image reading apparatus.
 5. The method according to claim 1,further comprising a step of verifying status of said image readingapparatus.
 6. In an image reading system having an image readingapparatus for reading the image on a document and outputting image datarepresenting the image, and an information processing terminal intowhich the image data output by said image reading apparatus is entered,a method of controlling said image reading system comprising:a storagestep of storing information, which has been entered from a control panelof said image reading apparatus, in a memory of said image readingapparatus; a verification step of verifying the information, which hasbeen stored in the memory, in response to a command from saidinformation processing terminal; a step of causing said image readingapparatus to start reading the image in response to a command from saidinformation processing terminal if it is verified at said verificationstep that an image read instruction has been issued by the control panelof said image reading apparatus; and a receiving step of receiving, atsaid information processing terminal, image data which is the result ofsaid image reading apparatus reading the image in response to thecommand for image reading.
 7. The method according to claim 6, furthercomprising a step of reserving image reading processing at the controlpanel of said image reading apparatus.
 8. The method according to claim7, wherein an image read command issued by operation of said informationprocessing terminal is not accepted if reservation of image readingprocessing has been set at the control panel of said image readingapparatus.
 9. A computer readable program, stored on a storage medium,for controlling an information processing terminal in an image readingsystem having an image reading apparatus for reading the image on adocument and outputting image data representing the image, and saidinformation processing terminal into which the image data output by saidimage reading apparatus is entered, said information processing terminalbeing externally connected to said image reading apparatus, said programcomprising:program code for verifying whether an image read instructionhas been issued by said image reading apparatus; program code forcommanding said image reading apparatus to start reading of the image onthe document by said image reading apparatus if the image readinstruction has been issued from said image reading apparatus; andprogram code for receiving image data which is the result of said imagereading apparatus reading the image in response to an image readcommand.